Paris Street Food That Locals Actually Eat (Tourists Have No Idea)

Most visitors eat at the same handful of places they saw on Instagram, but that is not where Parisians eat. In this video we spend two days on a Paris street food route: eight spots around the city, each one under €20. By the end you have a ready-made route you can follow yourself, whether you want something creative or a simple classic.

The stops

  • Taco-sushi: sushi fillings like tuna with spicy mayo in a taco shape, plus soft chicken karaage. Fast, inexpensive and creative.
  • A tiny sandwich shop near République: one of the smallest shops in Paris, with a jambon-beurre on crispy baguette. €15 each when we filmed, expensive but very good quality.
  • A gyoza house in the Saint-Georges area: crispy gyoza and karaage with soup, a decent lunch for less than €10.
  • Nour Counter near République: very fresh falafel, hummus and the beef arayes, a Syrian pita (€9.50 standard, €12.50 XL when we filmed).
  • Ficelle: sandwiches on a very thin baguette, from €3.90 to €4.90, or a set for €12. Try the one with salted butter and chocolate, a French childhood snack.
  • Dumbo Paris in the Marais: a crispy smash burger, fries, water and a giant cookie for about $20.
  • A fries spot near Notre-Dame: a medium cone with sauces like truffle mayo, eaten on the banks of the Seine. About €13 for everything, drinks included.
  • A rotisserie on Rue Mouffetard: a grilled chicken sandwich topped with crispy chicken skin for about 10 bucks, plus homemade chocolate mousse.

Why it works

Parisians often go out for Asian or Middle Eastern food rather than French food, and many of these places fill up with people who work nearby. A great sandwich doesn’t need 20 ingredients. Rue Mouffetard, one of the oldest streets in Paris, is popular with students for its affordable food. All prices are from when we filmed.

For more places like these, see our guide to the 125 best restaurants in Paris. To eat your way through the city with a local, book a Devour food tour. And our Paris Guide Bundle has restaurant picks by neighborhood.